Covid-19 defers domestic badminton season again

The first senior tournament (both men and women) was scheduled to be held from August 27 to September 3, while the second event was supposed to be staged from September 4 to 11

New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on the domestic season with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) forced to postpone this month’s senior ranking tournaments in Bangalore after local authorities denied the permission to host the events.

The first senior tournament (both men and women) was scheduled to be held from August 27 to September 3, while the second event was supposed to be staged from September 4 to 11 and would have marked the resumption of the domestic season after a gap of more than one and a half years.

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“Unfortunately the tournaments had to be postponed till further notice as the Bangalore government didn’t give permission to host the event due to the current Covid-19 situation,” BAI general secretary Ajay Singhania said.

Earlier, BAI had decided to resume the domestic tournaments with the two senior ranking tournaments in April but was forced to postpone the same due to rising Covid-19 cases in the country. “We didn’t get permission from local authorities as cases are already spiking in some states like Kerela and also in Bangalore there has been weekend curfews and containment zones,” said P Rajesh, Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) secretary.

“Also there are more than 2000 entries, which also include under-18 kids, who would be more vulnerable.” Earlier, BAI had laid down guidelines for the resumption of tournament, urging the players above the age of 18, coaches, technical officials, organising team and staff to get fully vaccinated and also carry their certificates with valid barcodes.

Last year, BAI was forced to postpone the Senior National Championships in Lucknow between April 27 to May 3 in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and also postpone the domestic circuit till September. No event could be organised in the last one and half year during which the India Open Super 500 event, which was one of the Olympic qualifiers, was also cancelled.

The international circuit has also been affected by the pandemic with the game’s governing body BWF revamping the calender multiple times to ensure some badminton action for the athletes.